Base frame for a reach truck

ABSTRACT

A base frame for a reach truck includes a wheel arm subassembly with two wheel arms each having a front end and an opposing rear end. A load wheel receiver is positioned on each rear end and a counterweight is positioned at the front end of the wheel arms and coupled to the wheel arm subassembly by a plurality of screw connections. The plurality of screw connections comprise a first portion of screw connections and a second portion of screw connections. The first portion of screw connections each extend in a first direction and the second portion of the screw connections each extend in a second direction which is different from the first direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/251,234, filed Jan. 18, 2019, which is basedupon and claims priority to, under relevant sections of 35 U.S.C. §119,German Patent Application No. 10 2018 101 539.9, filed Jan. 24, 2018.The entire contents of said applications are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a base frame for a reach truck. The base framereceives all substantial loads acting on the vehicle, in particular thewheels of the vehicle, the lifting frame and a driver's seat and/or adriver's cab being arranged on the base frame. Base frames for reachtrucks have two wheel arms, in each case a wheel receiver being arrangedon the front ends thereof. The lifting frame is displaceably guidedbetween the two wheel arms.

BACKGROUND

Known base frames for reach trucks are produced as a welded subassemblyand comprise a plurality of transverse members which connect the twowheel arms to a torsionally stiff frame. Other members, for examplelongitudinal members, may also be used. In addition to torsionalstiffness, in the construction of base frames for reach trucks, inparticular, dimensions which are as small as possible in the vehiclelongitudinal direction play an important role as well as an optimal useof the constructional space.

In forklift trucks which are not configured as reach trucks, the use ofcounterweights for compensating the tilting moments exerted by areceived load are common.

Such a forklift truck with a counterweight has been disclosed in thepublication DE 696 18 699 T2, in which the counterweight is configuredas a cast product and in addition to its function as a counterweightserves at the same time as a carrier for a drive unit and a steeringmotor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding therefrom, it is the object of the invention to provide animproved base frame for a reach truck.

In an embodiment, a base frame for a reach truck comprises a wheel armsubassembly which comprises two wheel arms that each have a load wheelreceiver located on their rear ends. A counterweight comprised of castiron is positioned at a front end of the wheel arms and is connected tothe wheel arm subassembly by a number of screw connections. A firstportion of the screw connections in each case has a longitudinaldirection which is oriented in a first direction and a second portion ofthe screw connections in each case has a longitudinal direction which isoriented in a second direction such that the first direction isdifferent from the second direction.

The two wheel arms are preferably produced from steel. In each case aguide rail for a lifting mast may be arranged on the wheel arms. As afurther component, the base frame comprises a counterweight made of castiron which is connected to the wheel arm subassembly by a number ofscrew connections. Each screw connection has a longitudinal direction.This corresponds to the direction in which the two components are bracedrelative to one another by the screw connection, i.e. in particular thelongitudinal direction of a screw used for the screw connection or athreaded bolt used for the screw connection. In the invention, thethreaded joint between the counterweight and the wheel arm subassemblycomprises screw connections in at least two different directions. As aresult, the counterweight integrated in the base frame may provide asubstantial contribution to the stability of the base frame and, inparticular, increase the torsional stiffness thereof.

The counterweight consists of cast iron, in particular a cast irondenoted as nodular graphite iron which contains spheroidal graphite. Inprinciple, cast iron is characterised by its freely selectable shapingwhich promotes optimal usability of the constructional space within thebase frame. Nodular graphite iron can also be worked particularlyeasily. At least one of the screw connections or all of the screwconnections may comprise a threaded bore in the counterweight. Inparticular, in combination with nodular graphite iron a stable threadedjoint which is easy to assemble is thus possible.

As distinguished from forklift trucks, reach trucks of conventionaldesign require no counterweight. An advantageous weight distribution inelectrically driven vehicles may be already achieved by a suitablearrangement, in particular, of the vehicle battery. This applies, inparticular, when using conventional heavy lead-acid batteries. Whenusing new battery technologies, in particular comprising lithium-ionbatteries, however, according to the invention the counterweight made ofcast iron which is integrated in the base frame may provide asignificant contribution to optimal weight distribution.

In one embodiment, the wheel arm subassembly is a welded subassemblywhich has a transverse connection welded to the two wheel arms. In thiscase, the wheel arm subassembly forms a prefabricated unit which may beproduced in the conventional manner. In principle, however, it is alsopossible to connect together the two wheel arms in a different manner orto use a multipart wheel arm subassembly.

In one embodiment, the first direction and the second direction areoriented at right angles to one another. In particular, one of the twodirections may be oriented horizontally and the other of the twodirections may be oriented vertically. By such an orientation an optimalbracing effect of the base frame may be achieved by the threaded jointwith the counterweight.

In one embodiment, the first portion and/or the second portion of thescrew connections are configured for transmitting forces transversely totheir respective longitudinal direction. To this end, different measureswhich improve the ability to transmit transverse forces may beimplemented. This contributes to a high degree of torsional stiffness ofthe base frame.

In one embodiment, the first portion and/or the second portion of thescrew connections are configured for permitting tolerance compensationtransversely to the respective longitudinal direction thereof. This maybe achieved, for example, by an elongated hole or by a bore, thediameter thereof being selected to be larger, at least by the toleranceto be compensated, than the diameter of a screw or a bolt. Such atolerance compensation may, in particular, be provided exclusively forone of the two portions of the screw connections, whilst the otherportion has a more accurate fit for the purpose of optimal stability.

In one embodiment, at least one of the screw connections has a dowel pinarranged in a through-bore of the wheel arm subassembly and a screwinserted into the dowel pin. The dowel pin serves for a positiveanchoring of the screw in the through-bore and is particularly suitablefor transmitting transverse forces.

In one embodiment, at least one of the screw connections has a discincreasing the coefficient of friction arranged between the wheel armsubassembly and the counterweight. By this measure, a particularly goodtransmission of transverse forces is also ensured. The disc increasingthe coefficient of friction may, in particular, be a diamond disc, forexample a disc coated with diamond dust.

The aforementioned embodiments comprising a dowel pin or a discincreasing the coefficient of friction may, in particular, be used ineach case for all of the screw connections of one of the two portions.For example all of the screw connections of the first portion may have adowel pin for optimal transmission of transverse forces, whilst all ofthe screw connections of the other portion may be provided with thepossibility of tolerance compensation and a disc increasing thecoefficient of friction in order to permit simultaneously tolerancecompensation and optimal transmission of transverse forces.

In one embodiment, the transverse connection has a horizontally arrangedbase plate and/or a vertically arranged transverse member. The baseplate and/or transverse member may be produced in a plate-shaped mannerand/or from steel. The transverse member may be arranged in a centralportion of the wheel arms. The base plate may extend from the transversemember to the front, i.e. away from the rear ends of the wheel arms withthe load wheel receivers. The transverse member may be arranged at avertical spacing from the base plate. The transverse member may protrudeover an upper edge of the wheel arms. The illustrated arrangement of thebase plate and/or transverse member is advantageous for the arrangementand fastening of further vehicle components to the base frame.

In one embodiment, the first portion of the screw connections is presentbetween the counterweight and the transverse member and/or the secondportion of the screw connections is present between the counterweightand the base plate. In principle, the screw connections may be arrangedbetween the counterweight and the wheel arm subassembly on differentelements of the wheel arm subassembly, for example between thecounterweight and a wheel arm. A threaded joint with the base plateand/or with the transverse member is suitable for the desired bracingeffect and may be additionally assembled in a particularly simplemanner.

In one embodiment, at least one of the screw connections has a screwhead which is arranged so as to be countersunk, wherein to this end thematerial of the welded subassembly is provided with a through-bore witha diameter which is larger than the screw head and with a welded-on discwhich has a smaller through-bore. The disc may, in particular, becircular. The smaller through-bore is, in particular, arrangedconcentrically to the larger through-bore. Together the twothrough-bores form a step and the larger through-bore may entirelyreceive the screw head. A countersunk arrangement of the screw headsmay, in particular, ensure the required protection on the vehicleunderside. The construction comprising the welded-on disc permits aconnection which is cost-effective and material-saving and which has ahigh load-bearing capacity.

In one embodiment, an upper face of the welded-on disc forms a contactsurface for a disc increasing the coefficient of friction arrangedbetween the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight. This solutionis advantageous for the transmission of transverse forces and isstructurally simple.

In one embodiment, the counterweight has a recess which receives thewelded-on disc. In this construction, the freedom in the shaping of thecast counterweight is utilised in order to fasten the counterweight andthe wheel arm subassembly at a particularly small spacing from oneanother. The material strength of the wheel arm subassembly increased bythe disc is compensated by the recess.

In one embodiment, a base of the recess forms a contact surface for adisc increasing the coefficient of friction arranged between the wheelarm subassembly and the counterweight. In particular, the discincreasing the coefficient of friction may bear with one side directlyagainst the base of the recess and with the other side directly againstthe welded-on disc.

In one embodiment, the counterweight extends over the entire width ofthe base frame and/or the centre of gravity of the counterweight isarranged below the centre of gravity of the wheel arm subassembly and/orbelow an upper edge of the wheel arms. As a result, the counterweightmay make a significant contribution to the function of the base frameand to a low centre of gravity of the reach truck.

In one embodiment, the counterweight has fastening means for fastening adriver's cab and/or a drive wheel carrier to the counterweight.Accordingly, the counterweight not only contributes to the bracing ofthe base frame and to optimal weight distribution but at the same timefulfils an additional function as a carrier of the aforementionedcomponents of the reach truck.

In one embodiment, the reach truck may, in particular, have a liftingmast and an electrical drive system with a drive battery. In particular,the reach truck may have a driver's cab and/or a drive wheel carrierfastened to the counterweight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the invention is described in more detail with reference toan exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates top perspective view of an embodiment of a base framefor a reach truck;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the base frame of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of thebase frame of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of thecounterweight of the base frame of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of the area A of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of the area B of FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a reachtruck with the base frame of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The base frame of FIG. 1 has two wheel arms 10, in each case a loadwheel receiver 12 being able to be identified on the rear ends thereof.Each of the wheel arms 10 has on its inner face a guide rail 18 for thelifting mast. In the language used in this application, the end of thebase frame or, respectively, of the reach truck remote from the loadwheel receivers 12 is denoted as the front end.

At the front end of the wheel arms 10 is located a counterweight 14which is made of cast iron and which extends substantially over theentire width of the base frame. The front end of the counterweight 14forms at the same time the front end of the vehicle and has a slightlyrounded shape. A fastening base 16 is arranged in each case at the lowerend of the counterweight 14 on both sides for a supporting element whichis also denoted as a supporting cone.

Further details are able to be identified more clearly in FIG. 2 . It isidentified here that a transverse connection between the two wheel arms10 is formed by a transverse member 20 and by a base plate 22. Thetransverse member 20 is a vertically arranged steel plate. Thetransverse member is welded to the wheel arms 10 at a central positionof the wheel arms 10, upstream of a space intended for the lifting mast.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the wheel arm subassembly is thus awelded subassembly with a transverse connection.

The base plate 22 is a horizontally arranged steel plate. The base plate22 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction approximately from theposition of the transverse member 20 to the front, substantially as faras the front end of the counterweight 14 or, respectively, of thevehicle. The transverse member 20 has a vertical spacing from the baseplate 22.

The counterweight 14 consists of nodular graphite iron. Thecounterweight 14 has a rear portion which is arranged between the frontends of the wheel arms 10 and a wider portion adjacent thereto at thefront, which extends over the entire width of the base frame and whichforms a front end of the base frame.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the arrangement of six screw connections betweenthe welded subassembly and the counterweight 14. A first portion ofthese screw connections, namely the two screw connections between thetransverse member 20 and the counterweight 14, has in each case athrough-bore in the transverse member 20, a dowel pin 24 inserted intothis through-bore and a screw 26 inserted into the dowel pin 24. Thethreaded portions of the screws 26, not shown in detail, are screwedinto threaded bores in the counterweight 14 which are concealed in FIG.2 .

A second portion of the screw connections, namely the four screwconnections configured between the base plate 22 and the counterweight14, in each case has a through-bore in the base plate 22, a screw 28inserted into the through-bore and a diamond disc 30. These screws 28are also screwed with threaded portions, not shown in detail, intothreaded bores in the counterweight 14. These threaded bores in thecounterweight 14 are also not visible in FIG. 2 .

In the exploded view of FIG. 2 , the screws 26, 28 in each case areillustrated in the longitudinal direction of the screw connections. Itmay be identified that the screw connections with the screws 26, i.e.the first portion of the screw connections, are oriented horizontallywhilst the screw connections with the screws 28, as the second portionof the screw connections, are oriented vertically.

Moreover, FIG. 2 shows fastening means for a driver's cab in the form oftwo threaded domes 62 which are configured in the vicinity of the frontcorners of the counterweight 14 and which have a defined bearing surfacefor a driver's cab support structure and a threaded bore. For fasteninga drive wheel carrier/a drive system, the counterweight 14 additionallyhas further fastening bores arranged in two rows 64.

In the view of FIG. 3 of the base frame obliquely from below isidentified particularly clearly a recess 32 for a drive wheel which isopen to the front edge of the base plate 22, the drive wheel carrierthereof being mounted on the counterweight 14. It is also able to beidentified that the heads of the screws 28 are arranged so as to becountersunk in the base plate 22.

In FIG. 4 the counterweight 14 is shown alone. A rear surface 50 whichis assigned to the transverse member 20 may be identified on theaforementioned rear portion of the counterweight 14 arranged between thewheel arms 10. Two circular recesses 52 with central threaded bores 54are shown in the rear surface 50 for receiving the screws 26 (FIG. 3 ).These threaded bores 54 are designed as stepped bores. In a rearlongitudinal portion these threaded bores have an enlarged diameterwhich receives a portion of one of the dowel pins 24. A frontlongitudinal portion with a smaller diameter adjoins one step, saidfront longitudinal portion having an inner thread for screwing in thescrew 26 (FIG. 3 ). Further recesses 56 with central threaded bores 58for receiving the screws 28 (FIG. 3 ) may be identified on the lowerfront edge of the counterweight 14. The counterweight 14 has an opening60 for receiving a drive wheel and a drive wheel carrier. This opening60 is dimensioned and arranged so as to correspond to the recess 32 inthe base plate 22 (FIGS. 2-3 ).

The enlargement shown in FIG. 5 of the area A of FIG. 3 shows moreclearly that the base plate 22 has a through-bore 34 with a diameterwhich is markedly larger than the diameter of the head of the screw 28.The head of the screw 28 is entirely arranged inside this through-bore34 and does not protrude downwardly over the base plate 22.

The area B of FIG. 2 shown enlarged in FIG. 6 shows the other side ofthis screw connection, i.e. obliquely from above in the viewingdirection. It may be identified here that above the through-bore 34 ofthe base plate 22 a circular disc 36 is welded onto the base plate 22,wherein the welded-on circular disc 36 in turn has a smallerthrough-bore 38. This through-bore 38 receives a shank portion of thescrew 28. The upper face of the welded-on circular disc 36 which facesthe observer in FIG. 5 forms a contact surface for the diamond disc 30.The upper face of the diamond disc 30 bears against the base of a recess56 in the counterweight 14, shown in FIG. 4 , which receives thewelded-on circular disc 36.

FIG. 7 shows a reach truck with the base frame of FIG. 1 in aperspective view obliquely from the front/below. The reach truck iselectrically driven and has a displaceably arranged lifting frame 40, adriver's cab 42 and a driver's seat 44. It may be identified that theload wheel receivers 12 of the two wheel arms 10 in each case havereceived a load wheel 46 and that a steerable drive wheel 48 is arrangedin the recess 32 of the base plate 22.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED

10 Wheel arm

12 Load wheel receiver

14 Counterweight

16 Fastening base for support element

18 Guide rail

20 Transverse member

22 Base plate

24 Dowel pin

26 Screw

28 Screw

30 Diamond disc

32 Recess

34 Through-bore

36 Welded-on disc

38 Through-bore

40 Lifting frame

42 Driver's cab

44 Driver's seat

46 Load wheel

48 Drive wheel

50 Rear surface

52 Recess

54 Threaded bore

56 Recess

58 Threaded bore

60 Opening

62 Threaded dome

64 Row of fastening bores

1. A base frame for a reach truck, comprising: a wheel arm subassemblycomprising two wheel arms each having a front end and a rear end; and acounterweight positioned at the front end of the two wheel arms andcoupled to the wheel arm subassembly by a plurality of screwconnections, wherein the plurality of screw connections comprise a firstportion of screw connections extending along a first direction and asecond portion of screw connections extending along a second directionthat is different than the first direction, wherein the first directionextends horizontally and wherein the second direction extendsvertically.
 2. The base frame of claim 1, further comprising a loadwheel receiver positioned on each rear end.
 3. The base frame of claim1, wherein at least one of the plurality of screw connections comprisesa screw head configured to be countersunk.
 4. The base frame of claim 3,wherein the wheel arm subassembly defines a through-bore with a diameterwhich is larger than the screw head and a welded-on disc defining athrough-bore that is smaller than the screw head.
 5. The base frameaccording to claim 4, wherein an upper face of the welded-on disc formsa contact surface for a disc positioned between the wheel armsubassembly and the counterweight, and wherein the disc is configured toincrease a coefficient of friction between the wheel arm subassembly andthe counterweight.
 6. The base frame according to claim 4, wherein thecounterweight defines a recess configured to receive the welded-on disc.7. The base frame according to claim 6, wherein a base of the recessforms a contact surface for a disc positioned between the wheel armsubassembly and the counterweight, and wherein the disc is configured toincreasing a coefficient of friction between the wheel arm subassemblyand the counterweight.
 8. The base frame according to claim 1, furthercomprising a transverse member at least partially positioned between thetwo wheel arms, wherein the counterweight extends from the front end tothe transverse member.
 9. The base frame according to claim 1, whereinat least one of a driver's cab and a drive wheel carrier are configuredto fasten to the counterweight.
 10. The base frame according to claim 1,wherein the counterweight is comprised of cast iron and configured toprovide torsional stability for the reach truck.
 11. The base frameaccording to claim 1, wherein a center of gravity of the counterweightis below an upper edge of each wheel arm subassembly.
 12. A base framefor a reach truck, comprising: a wheel arm subassembly; and acounterweight coupled to the wheel arm subassembly by a plurality ofscrew connections, wherein the plurality of screw connections comprise afirst portion of screw connections that extend in a first direction anda second portion of screw connections that extend in a second directionthat is different form the first direction, wherein the first directionis oriented horizontally and the second direction is orientedvertically.
 13. The base frame according to claim 12, further comprisinga base plate.
 14. The base frame according to claim 12, wherein thewheel arm subassembly comprises two wheel arms each having a front endand a rear end.
 15. The base frame according to claim 12, wherein atleast one of the plurality of screw connections comprises a screw headconfigured to be countersunk.
 16. The base frame of claim 15, whereinthe wheel arm subassembly defines a through-bore with a diameter whichis larger than the screw head and a welded-on disc defining athrough-bore that is smaller than the screw head.
 17. The base frameaccording to claim 16, wherein an upper face of the welded-on disc formsa contact surface for a disc positioned between the wheel armsubassembly and the counterweight, and wherein the disc is configured toincrease a coefficient of friction between the wheel arm subassembly andthe counterweight.
 18. The base frame according to claim 12, furthercomprising a transverse member, wherein the counterweight extends from afront end to the transverse member.
 19. The base frame according toclaim 12, wherein at least one of a driver's cab and a drive wheelcarrier are configured to fasten to the counterweight.
 20. The baseframe according to claim 12, wherein the counterweight is comprised ofcast iron and configured to provide torsional stability for the reachtruck.